USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 24
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amount up to $2,037.02, and with this fund as a nucleus the real work began by the installing of Mary C. Gormley as nurse in charge, the supplying of the needy with articles of diet suited to their condition, and the providing of means for an out-of-door life to those who could not otherwise procure it.
It seems only simple justice to make official record in this place of the league's appreciation of the remarkable and devoted work, in behalf of the success of Waterbury's first Tag Day, of Dr. Elizabeth C. Spencer, her immediate associates, and practically all the women of Waterbury. This gave an additional $5,965.28 for the work of the league during the first year.
The actual labors in behalf of Waterbury's victims of the White Plague began April 20, 1908.
At first, when the patients were few in number, the nurse was able to give them considerable practical care. But as the number increased, it was evident that preventive and educational work must take the lead, and the friends and relatives of the patients must receive instruction that would enable them to give baths and attend otherwise to the personal comfort and well-being of the patients.
A number of cases were reported by the Board of Health, Board of Charities, a few by the doctors, and some by the patients themselves, their friends, and other sources. The favorable cases were discovered by having those who had been exposed to the disease examined by Doctor Deming at his class meeting on Wednesday mornings, when possible for the patient to attend, or at his office by appointment.
A summary of the first year's work is interesting. Fifteen patients were sent to the Gaylord Farm Sanatorium, only two of whom were self-supporting. Two patients were supported by the league, three by different fraternal organizations, one by the Board of Charities, five by individuals interested in work being done, and two by presidents of manufacturing concerns.
Two patients, rejected from Gaylord Farm Sanatorium, were sent to a sani- tarium in Rutland, Mass. One of these was self-supporting and one was sup- ported by two clergymen.
One patient was sent to the Hartford Hospital, and one was sent to Ireland by the Board of Charities ; one was sent to Ireland by relatives ; one to Cleveland, O., by fraternal organizations ; one to Denver, Colo., by a benevolent society ; one went South by the aid of friendly subscriptions; one went to Providence, R. I., and one ex-patient of Gaylord Farm Sanatorium went to work in Westfield, Mass. Five were sent to country places where homes had been secured.
One hundred and fifty-two patients were visited by the nurse, a total of 1,872 visits being made.
Fourteen patients were ordered to sleep out of doors on verandas, protected by drop curtains ; twenty reclining chairs were loaned to patients while taking the cure at home, and to ten patients room and board allowance were given.
At the beginning of the second year, it was found necessary to engage the services of a second nurse, and Miss Josephine V. Hayes, a graduate of the New York City Training School, having had considerable experience, and being a very efficient Waterbury nurse, received the appointment. The work of instructing and helping patients in their homes was therefore strengthened and a great deal of good has been accomplished.
During the second year, 162 new cases were given service and 3,850 visits were recorded by nurses. Of the 27 patients sent to Gaylord Farm Sanatorium, in 1909, only 6 were self-supporting, 8 were supported by private individuals, 8 received partial support by the league, 2 were entirely supported by the league, I by the city, 9 received help from manufacturers and fraternal organizations.
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During this year the work grew apace, and Dr. Dudley B. Deming, assistant secretary, recorded over one hundred examinations. Dr. John E. Farrell was appointed to take special charge of a children's anti-tuberculosis class.
In 1912 the opening of the pavilion for children in the Gaylord Farm Sana- torium supplied a long-felt need. Two Waterbury children were sent there by the league immediately after the opening.
Two years ago the open air school, which had been conducted by the league with eminent success, was turned over to the school system. It is now conducted during the school year on the roof of the Clark School. The average number of pupils is forty. These are all those in the public schools who show a tendency to lung trouble, and who have permission of parents to attend the school. Break- fast and noonday lunches are supplied, and these consist of the diet so essential in cases with tubercular tendencies.
In August, 1917, the league occupied its new rooms in Lincoln House. Here- after it will have splendid accommodations in which to continue its work.
The records for the last two years ended February, 1917, show the growth of the work. During this two year period, 362 cases were sent to Gaylord Farm, 586 were sent to state sanitaria. 145 to county or other institutions, a total of 1,093 removed from Waterbury and no longer a menace to the healthy. During this two year period, league nurses visited 3,539 cases needing special attention. In addition, 65,000 visits were made to houses in which advice or service was needed.
During the nine years of its existence, Waterbury's citizens have provided well for its needs, the total approximating close to seventy-five thousand dollars.
The officers of the league are as follows: President. A. R. Kimball ; first vice president, J. L. Saxe; second vice president, S. F. Gorham; secretary, Dr. T. J. Kilmartin; assistant secretary, Dr. Dudley B. Deming; treasurer, Walter W. Holmes; publicity secretary, Eugene Kerner; executive committee, Oscar Zieg- ler, John Robinson, John F. Galvin, Christian F. Lund, William Tysoe, F. S. Gorham, Rocco Mancini, Paul G. Schultze, A. W. Darley. William Dinneen, D. L. Summey, W. J. Pape, Albert Lampke, Dr. Chas. Engelke.
THE FIRST "UNITED CHARITIES"
On April 30, 1894, at a meeting held in the old Y. M. C. A. Hall the "United Charities" of Waterbury was organized. This to begin with co-operated with the Association for Christian Visitation and Charity which had been organized in 1891 by the Protestant churches of the city. At this meeting in April E. M. Dickinson represented the association for Christian Visitation and Charity, Mrs. R. N. Blakeslee represented the King's Daughters, Henry W. Scovill represented the Boys' Club, Patrick Holahan the Catholic churches, Horace G. Hoadley the Citizens' Bureau. Later the Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Association, the Indus- trial School and other like organizations joined. Until January 1, 1896, the expense of maintaining the central office was borne by the directors of Christian Visitation and Charity, who also continued their work, particularly that con- nected with a broom factory established in 1893. Its secretary was Edward M. Dickinson. For two years it held its quarterly meetings in February, May. August and November, but in 1897 the organization work waned and the activities were again taken up by the various societies.
THE WATERBURY DAY NURSERY
The Waterbury Day Nursery, the object of which is the daily care of children under ten, whose mothers are forced to self-support outside their homes, had its
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beginning in February, 1895, in a small building on Leavenworth Street, later the site of the fire house. It began with the care of three babies whose cribs were market baskets, but under the devoted care of Mrs. Steinmeyer, the first matron, it grew both in number and equipment. In 1897 it moved to Spring Street, and in 1898 it secured the home on Kingsbury Street. This, with a large yard in the rear for a playground, made an ideal place for its work.
One of its beautiful customs established since its second year is the annual Christmas tree which all of its children come to enjoy.
In I911 its total attendance was 9,322. Its largest record for one day was fifty and its smallest eight.
This record of service has been kept up through the years since then, with over fifty children on the list and an average daily attendance of thirty-six. Its record for May, 1917, was 762; for June, 745; for July, 948; for August, 648; for September, 639; for October, 646; for November, 858.
The equipment for its work is ideal. The kindergarten is finished in red enamel and has in it all of the usual appurtenances of educational beginnings. The baby room is in white enamel and has thirteen cradles. In this room are low circular tables with playthings. There are fine bathing facilities for the children.
Dinner and supper are served the children daily. While no children over eight years of age are cared for, meals are provided for any little ones that require such service.
At present Mrs. L. M. Fowler is superintendent.
The officers of the Day Nursery are: President, Edith Kingsbury ; secretary, Mrs. H. Milroy Steele ; treasurer, Martha R. Driggs.
THE SOUTHMAYD HOME
Mrs. Thomas Donaldson was the founder of Southmayd Home. Although it was not opened until 1898 it was in her mind as early as 1889, when she deposited $10 in a savings bank as the nucleus of a fund for the establishment of an Old Ladies' Home in Waterbury. Within four years she had secured $1,700 and many pledges, so that on June 26, 1894, the property on North Main Street on which the home was first located was purchased.
It was the original purpose of Mrs. Donaldson to establish the home for members of the First Congregational Church only. But gradually the plan broadened, and although the lot and home were deeded to the First Church it was decided to make the home non-sectarian.
The name "Southmayd" was suggested by Dr. Joseph Anderson in honor of one of the early pastors of the church.
Its first board of managers was selected in December, 1894, and consisted of Mrs. Thomas Donaldson, Mrs. G. S. Parsons, Mrs. W. E. Riley, Mrs. C. F. Chapin, Mrs. O. S. Northrop, Mrs. C. A. Hamilton, Miss Susan H. Cairns of the First Church, Mrs. A. A. Blackman, Miss Charlotte B. Merriman, Mrs. A. C. Northrop, Mrs. A. I. Goodrich, Miss Caroline A. Platt representing the other churches of the city. H. H. Peck, E. C. Lewis and Cornelius Tracy were named as advisory committee.
The managers did not meet until 1897. Mrs. Donaldson had, however, been busy and in August, 1897, announced that the Southmayd Home was free of debt and would be opened in the spring.
At the first meeting of the board of managers, January 26, 1898, Mrs. A. I. Goodrich was chosen president; Miss Susan H. Cairns, secretary, which position
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she still occupies, and Mrs. Thomas Donaldson, treasurer. It was not opened in the spring, but the delay was brief, for on September 26, 1898, the home was dedicated, its first occupant being Mrs. Betsey B. Merritt, eighty-one years old and blind. She died at the home October 7, 1900.
On January 6, 1901, the board selected Mrs. Thomas Donaldson as superin- tendent and she occupied this position until 1911. Mrs. Donaldson died in November, 1916.
The home on North Main Street was entirely inadequate, even with an annex which was later added, for it could accommodate but six old ladies.
In I911 the former Nurses' Home, of twenty-five rooms, part of the older buildings of the Waterbury Hospital, was leased to the Southmayd Home managers and it now accommodates sixteen old ladies.
The organization has, however, purchased a lot on the Boulevard and will begin the construction of an ideal Old Ladies' Home with more than double the present capacity, as soon as building conditions permit and as quickly as a building fund can be obtained. The need of this is imperative, as the applica- tions are now far beyond capacity.
The Southmayd Home has, through the bequest of Elisha Leavenworth and E. C. Lewis, about $90,000 in its maintenance fund, but this cannot be touched for building purposes.
The officers and directors of the Southmayd Home are as follows: President, Mrs. W. H. Pierce; vice president, Mrs. W. E. Riley; secretary, Miss S. H. Cairns; treasurer, Mrs. H. G. Anderson.
Members of the board are: Mrs. W. H. Pierce, Mrs. W. E. Riley, Miss S. H. Cairns, Mrs. H. G. Anderson, Mrs. W. W. Holmes, Mrs. C. A. Hamilton, Mrs. D. B. Deming, Mrs. W. S. Kellogg, Mrs. C. H. Merriam, Mrs. A. D. Field, Mrs. J. A. Coe.
Members of advisory board: Cornelius Tracy, H. H. Peck, Edgar S. Lincoln.
THE KING'S DAUGHTERS
The King's Daughters was organized in May, 1888, and of its ten original members there are now living Mrs. I. N. Russell, Mrs. R. William Hampson, Mrs. Ralph N. Blakeslee and Miss Florence Mabel Chapman. Mrs. A. I. Goodrich, who was its president for twenty-five years, died three years ago. She was also among the founders. The organization is non-denominational and does its work of benevolence and charity quietly and effectively. It takes many cases in hand which could not well be looked after by the Associated Charities. In many instances it supplies weekly allowances to really deserving poor.
At Christmas time it distributes baskets of fruit to its long list of people needing help.
In November, 1916, the King's Daughters purchased the three-story building at 38 Grove Street. In this, to begin with, six girls were provided with room and board. In November, 1917, there are twenty-two girls in Grove Hall and many applicants that cannot be considered because of lack of accommodations. The young women are given room and board for $6.00 or $7.00 weekly. The property cost the King's Daughters $15,000. and this has nearly all been paid off.
There are at present eighty members who pay annual dues and who secure donations for the work of the organization.
Its president is Mrs. Ellen J. Whiton, the second to serve it in this capacity since its organization. Other officers are: Secretary, Miss Flora Church ; treas- urer, Miss Helen Chase. The board of managers consists of the officers and Vol. I-12
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Mrs. Ralph N. Blakeslee, Mrs. S. R. Kelsey, Mrs. George S. Bissett and Mrs. Rosa Simmons. The house mother is Mrs. Elizabeth C. Osborne.
THE BABY WELFARE STATION
The Visiting Nurses' Association of Waterbury among its many notable good deeds since its organization has done nothing more beneficial to the community than the establishment in June, 1916, of the Baby Welfare Station at 904 Bank Street. There clinics are held weekly on Tuesday and Friday with volunteer medical services. A nurse is daily in attendance, and until II o'clock every morn- ing pasteurized milk is sold at wholesale to mothers.
The Ladies' Aid Society has been a helpful factor in the work. This consists of Miss Edith Kingsbury, Mrs. John N. Lewis, Mrs. Fred. S. Chase, Miss Martha R. Driggs, Miss North, Mrs. Henry L. Wade.
THE QUEEN'S DAUGHTERS
The Queen's Daughters is a Catholic women's charitable organization, founded in 1900 with Father Dunnegan as its first chaplain. Since then it has been served in this capacity by Father Dooley of Sacred Heart Parish, Father James Broderick and now Father J. A. Doherty of Immaculate Conception. It helps the poor and sick throughout the city by furnishing food, clothing, fuel, medicine, etc., by employing as nurses for the needy sick the Sisters of the Holy Ghost, who made 1,026 visits during the year, to November 30, 1917, and by giving treatment at St. Mary's Hospital when necessary. Its members now number 362. Its officers are: Mrs. B. Doran, president ; Margaret Higgins, vice presi- dent; Mrs. J. Powers, recording secretary ; Anna Dwyer, financial secretary ; Rev. J. A. Doherty, treasurer and chaplain.
The Sisters of the Holy Ghost are French nuns who sought refuge in the United States on their expulsion with many other religious orders from France.
THE DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA
The Daughters of America, Lincoln Council No. 5, is the Waterbury branch of the national organization of that name. The local council has been in existence since 1905. It pays only funeral benefits. Its membership is about thirty.
Its present officers are : Curator, Mrs. Lillian Schroeder ; recording secretary, Mrs. Minnie Clark; financial secretary, C. L. Clark ; treasurer, J. A. Schroeder.
THE SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army began its work in Waterbury in April, 1892, and the first officers in charge were Capt. Alexander Lamb and Lieut. W. Salmon. The first meetings were largely street gatherings, and night after night required police protection. A little later the interest incrcased and the old rink, which stood on the site of the present Buckingham Music Hall, was engaged for the meetings. Even though these were held indoors, they were by no means always of a peaceful nature. In fact, there is a story which has been handed down as an authentic Salvation Army human document, which tells how Captain Lamb was thrown out of a window by the roughs who had come to the rink to break up the meeting.
But the work grew as it has grown in all American cities. The interest of Waterbury in the institution may be said to date from the mass meeting at the
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Auditorium October 29, 1894, when the head of the army, Gen. William Booth, addressed both indoor and overflow gatherings.
In 1895 the social or industrial work of the army was started by Capt. John York. This was made possible by the helpfulness of Waterbury citizens. Henry W. Scovill loaned the army the land on which its first woodyard was established. Ralph N. Blakeslee gave his team to draw the wood, and there were many gen- erous people who gave the money to buy the wood or gave the wood. This was very successful through several cold winters, and was one of the best aids the city had in its charitable work.
In 1900 the army was in a position to occupy a building of its own, and the present two-story structure at 281 Bank Street was erected by Mrs. Ida Norton. While it was used for a time, it was not until 1905 that it was bought outright. One ground floor store is rented out, and the remainder is used for the religious work of the army. The officers in charge today feel that the Salvation Army needs new and larger quarters and in a section where it can be more useful.
One other notable visit, that of Commander Booth-Tucker, now in charge of the Salvation Army work in India, in 1905, attracted local attention to its work and was followed by generous assistance on the part of public-spirited citizens of Waterbury.
From 1905 on, the army leased the building at 324 South Main Street for its industrial work. This proved of exceptional value in the charitable work of the city. To supplement the work done in this building, Mr. Scovill loaned the army the property at the corner of Field and Meadow streets, where baling of paper was done and furniture and garments were sorted for distribution in the larger building. During the past five years, six teams have been employed collecting furniture, garments, shoes, paper, in a wide area. Twenty-five to thirty men have been given employment. This work, until April, 1917, was in charge of Envoy Harry G. Frese.
At that time the rented building at 324 South Main Street was sold, the rent was trebled, and the army forced to give up its industrial work in Waterbury, as it was found impossible to find another suitable location at a reasonable outlay. This was followed by the transfer of Envoy Frese to Boston, where he is now helping at the Salvation Army's social center. The teams were shipped to Boston and Hartford, and the army is waiting a change in rental conditions so that the work can be resumed here.
In the meantime, the religious work continues in charge of Adjutant and Mrs. A. J. Tilley, who have been here for three years, coming from Framingham, Mass. They began their Salvation Army work thirty years ago, as pioneer officers in Newfoundland, and went from there to Canada. For the last twenty years they have been with the army in nearly every large town in New England.
The work of the Salvation Army has appealed to the best people here, and its list of annual donors contains the name of nearly every public-spirited citizen of Waterbury. H. B. Tuttle of Naugatuck, A. A. Benedict, I. H. Chase, H. H. Peck and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Reed Kimball are among those who have in the past decade been particularly helpful.
Just now Adjutant and Mrs. Tilley are arranging to have the Waterbury branch represented in the great war work done by the Salvation Army, and which is much along the lines of the Red Cross work.
CHAPTER XV
REVIEW OF WATERBURY'S MANUFACTURES
THE CENTER OF THE BRASS INDUSTRY-ITS PERCENTAGE OF OUTPUT BY DECADES- CENSUS FIGURES SHOW STRANGE CHANGES PRODUCTION OF NEEDLES, PINS, HOOKS AND EYES-NUMBER AND WAGES OF WORKERS IN WATERBURY FACTORIES SINCE 1899-CENSUS FIGURES ON VALUE OF WATERBURY PRODUCTS-WHAT WATERBURY MANUFACTURES-CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT-SEX OF WAGE EARNERS-THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION LAW-FACTORY CONSTRUCTION SINCE 1900.
The older readers of this volume, whose memories run back to the Waterbury of the 'gos, will remember some of the qualms with which many of our native New Englanders, who then constituted the bulk of the population, regarded the future of the city.
It had been growing satisfactorily in business and population, having estab- lished itself as the brass center of the United States and having definitely out- grown, by the census of 1900, such former leaders or old rivals as Norwich, Meri- den, Danbury and New Britain. It did a thriving business in pins, machinery and clocks. It was the home of the Waterbury watch.
But to many earnest observers of the times, all this seemed to be against nature. New England as a whole was working against difficulties which must cause her manufactures to decay as her agriculture had in the preceding gen- eration. Cotton mills were developing in the South, shoe factories in the Middle West, machine shops in Pennsylvania, brass foundries in Illinois and Michigan. New England was doomed. The argument against Waterbury was stronger than against New England as a whole. All of our raw materials came from long distances. Coal had to be hauled from Pennsylvania and no cop- per was mined within a thousand miles. With the upbuilding of the industries of the Middle West, and consequent shifting westward of the center of demand, was it reasonable that we could continue to haul copper and spelter past the factories of so many of our customers, and ship it back to them as brass bearing the charge of a double freight rate? Waterbury had no natural advantages,- absolutely none. With the industrial awakening of the enterprising West, she must cease to grow and her business must languish! In 1898 the opening of Center Street was opposed at a public hearing on the ground that Waterbury had ceased to grow and would never need another business street.
There was another cause for uneasiness in the "trust" movement which marked the closing years of that decade. Our industries might be gathered into the grasp of giant corporations whose controlling spirits, destitute alike of local affiliations and decency of sentiment, would cold-bloodedly close down many factories on the ground that Waterbury was not a logical site for an industry, When the International Silver Company acquired the local silver plate factories and promptly vacated the newly-built Rogers & Hamilton factory, the gloomiest
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MORIARTY
HAS IT
THE MORIARTY BUILDING, WATERBURY
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prophecies seemed confirmed. To the minds of the prophets of evil it was a sign and a warning.
One of the capable manufacturers of Waterbury, who has been a wizard in making two crucible furnaces blossom where one had previously shone, was asked a few years ago whether the 1910 census, then being taken, would indicate that Waterbury was in danger of losing her position as the seat of the American brass trade. He said frankly that he did not know. He knew the percentage of growth of his own enterprises but not the proportion of the brass business that was done in Waterbury. But he answered in terms of brick and mortar. He pointed out that the continuous enlargements of the Naugatuck Valley brass foundries was the best answer to any misgivings as to the future of the brass trade hereabouts.
"The brass industry in Connecticut," says Lathrop in his valuable monograph, "The Brass Industry," published in 1909, "affords a notable example of concen- tration. In 1880, 76% ; in 1890, 70% ; in 1900, 71% ; and in 1905, 73% of the rolling of brass and copper and the manufacture of the same was returned by the census as centered in the State of Connecticut. This concentration has been accomplished, notwithstanding the entire absence of raw materials within the state, and without any near absorbing market, except as such has appeared in the course of the development of the industry itself. The gross product of the brass mills is now more than seventy million dollars a year. There was, in 1900, no example of specialization involving so large a product which was as notable. Connecticut is retaining her hold upon the brass industry in increasing rather than in diminishing proportion."
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